Lee Library Hosts 'Jacob's Pillow in Lee, Mass.' Exhibit

01:56PM / Thursday, April 23, 2026Print Story | Email Story

LEE, Mass. — A new public history exhibit, "Jacob's Pillow in Lee, Mass.," will open Monday, June 1, in the Scolforo Gallery at the Lee Library.

The exhibit traces the long and often overlooked relationship between the internationally renowned dance hub in Becket and the neighboring town of Lee from the early 1930s to today.

Researched and curated by Lee resident Joshua D. Bloom, a member of the Lee Historical Society and a former academic researcher, the exhibit will be on display through June 30. It will be open to the public during the library's regular hours when the gallery is not hosting other programming.

The exhibit tells the story of relationships between Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and the town as they developed alongside one another through business, civic engagement, and personal connections.

Pamela Tatge, executive and artistic director of Jacob's Pillow, praised the project for highlighting the Pillow's community roots.

"This exhibit shines a light on the longstanding connections between Jacob's Pillow and the town of Lee," Tatge said. "The Pillow's history is deeply intertwined with the people and communities that have supported it for generations."

Several public programs will accompany the exhibit throughout June:

Tuesday, June 2, 4-5:45 p.m.: Opening reception with Pamela Tatge at the Lee Library
Saturday, June 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Family Dance Party with dance educator Sarah Daunt (sponsored by the Lee Youth Commission)
Thursday, June 11, 11-noon: History of Lee seniors dancing at Jacob's Pillow (sponsored by the Lee Council on Aging, at 21 Crossway St.)
4:30-5:45 p.m.: "Secret" gay history of Jacob's Pillow with historian Norton Owen (sponsored by Lee Pride, a project of Berkshire Pride, and Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition)
Saturday, June 13, 12:30-2 p.m.: "Secret" LGBTQ-plus history of Lee walking tour led by Bloom (beginning and ending at Park Square during Lee Pride; tour sponsored by Lee Pride, a project of Berkshire Pride, and Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition)
Monday, June 22, 4:30–5:45 p.m. — History of the Cantarella School of Dance in Lee with Madeline Cantarella Culpo and her Lee dancers (sponsored by the Lee Historical Society)
Monday, June 29, 4:30–5:45 p.m.: Closing reception on marketing, tourism, and business relations between Jacob's Pillow and the Town of Lee (sponsored by the Lee Chamber of Commerce)

This exhibit is made possible, in part, through a grant from the Lee Cultural Council, a local agency funded by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Tags: historical exhibit, jacobs pillow,

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Greenagers Founder Will Conklin Honored as Business Person of the Year

By Breanna Steele12:17PM / Saturday, October 03, 2026

Casey Pease of state Sen. Paul Mark's office presents William Conklin, right, with a state Senate proclamation.

EGREMONT, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce honored a local businessman and nonprofit leader on Sept. 24 at Catamount Mountain Resort.

William Conklin was this year's Business Person of the Year, recognizing his work as founder and executive director of Greenagers, a nonprofit that helps youth and children engage in work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, natural resource management, and vocational skills building.

Conklin and his family also run Sky View Farm and he is a managing partner of Konkapot Tree and Timber, a small-scale forest products business.

"If you spent any amount of time in Southern Berkshire, chances are you've heard his name, whether you realize the connection at the time or not," said board member Sierra King Watson, who emceed the event. "You might be having a conversation about farming, a new barn or structure that was built, students learning hands-on skills in sustainable agriculture, or a family that receives donated firewood to help keep their home warm through a cold Berkshire winter, or maybe you're simply talking about one of those community leaders who somehow manages to show up, support everyone, and seemingly be everywhere all at once.

"Well, one name has a way of continuously popping up, and that is Will Conklin."

Board President Mark Rulison said the region has more than 1,200 nonprofits. One in four jobs in the county is in the nonprofit sector, which ranks 27th nationally for nonprofit employment. He said the economic impact on the community is huge, thanking those who help.

For the event on Thursday, Conklin requested that as much of the food as possible was sourced locally. Most of it came from Greenagers, Sky View Farm, Indian Line Farm and Fancy Feast Supper Club, creative dinner series.

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